Girls outscore boys in reading proficiency levels; the gender gap is startling and concerning. The myth that boys won't read or that it's not "cool" for boys to love reading plays a big part in how these low levels come to be. Low expectations from teachers, and an assumption that boys prefer physical activity, mean that boys often don't find…

Describes three ideas for increasing children's motivation for reading (Meet-the-Author- Program, Captain's Reading Club, and holiday reading calendars), and presents an annotated bibliography of more than 50 children's books. (JMB)

Suggests five children's books useful in motivating children to write original stories and essays. (Author/SJL)

Eight ideas to motivate children to write. (CM)

A collection of plays, stories, and rhymes are offered in this article to help celebrate Halloween. (DF)

Presented are 35 activities guaranteed to nurture healthy attitudes toward reading. The author's original article, containing 30 related ideas, appeared in the November, 1977, issue of Instructor. (Editor/SJL)

Three different types of student newspapers are offered as examples to help teachers develop a unit on school publications. Creative ideas help children learn interviewing techniques and writing and editing skills while exploring many aspects of journalism. (DF)

The extent to which motivational strategies work with individual learners is closely related to the extent that they satisfy or reward fundamental human drives toward achievement, acceptance, knowledge and activity. (Author)

In conjunction with National Children's Book Week, this article provides activities to motivate children's reading; descriptions of some unusual elementary reading programs; ideas for creating book clubs and reading corners in the classroom; a children's literature quiz; and Allan Yeager's annotated list of the best children's books of this…

So often teachers say that motivation is the key to everything they do in the classroom. They want to motivate kids to read, write, and solve problems. They want to inspire them to take pride in a fluently-read paragraph or a simple act of kindness. They hope that their encouragement will help students to find their passions so they can become…

Writing skills can be reinforced when students work together to create a classroom novel. Examples of how a language arts class developed a character by brainstorming, then wrote and revised their story to be shared with others, are given. (DF)

The Play and Learn program uses graphics in the playground to create a learning environment where children explore basic skills. The playground encourages student participation in large and small groups or cross-age tutoring. Several different graphics are illustrated and explained. (DF)

Techniques for helping the poor speller succeed are offered. Students learn in different ways and can be taught to spell through the sense they use best. Tips include ideas for visual, aural, and kinesthetic learners. (DF)

Math manipulatives that are made from inexpensive, common items help students understand basic mathematics concepts. Learning activities using Cheerios, jellybeans, and clay as teaching materials are suggested. (DF)